Best Time to Drive from Santa Monica to SNA

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 46 minutes via I-405 South, usually 46 at this time.

On weekdays the 49-mile drive from Santa Monica to SNA (via I-405 South) usually takes as little as 44 minutes and up to 79 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 53 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (58 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: SNA to Santa Monica

Drive times are measured from downtown Santa Monica to John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA) (Paularino Avenue) along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Santa Monica to SNA by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	44	46	51	53	50	49	49	50	51	55	60	64	67	61	51	46	45
Tue	44	47	54	57	52	49	49	49	52	57	65	71	76	69	55	47	44
Wed	44	47	53	56	52	50	49	50	52	59	68	74	78	71	56	48	45
Thu	44	46	52	55	51	49	50	50	54	61	71	77	79	70	58	50	45
Fri	44	46	50	51	49	49	51	54	60	67	73	73	72	65	55	48	45
Sat	44	45	45	46	47	48	49	51	54	55	58	57	55	50	46	46	45
Sun	44	44	44	45	45	46	47	48	49	49	50	50	48	47	47	47	45

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. Surface streets at each end are estimated.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Santa Monica to SNA?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 44 minutes then, versus up to 79 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Santa Monica to SNA?

The 49-mile drive usually takes 44 to 79 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 53 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Santa Monica to SNA?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 79 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

SNA to Santa Monica (return trip) · Santa Monica to Los Angeles · Santa Monica to Pasadena · Santa Monica to Long Beach · Santa Monica to West Covina · Santa Monica to Burbank · Santa Monica to Glendale · Santa Monica to Santa Clarita · Santa Monica to Van Nuys · Santa Monica to Torrance · Santa Monica to Culver City · Santa Monica to El Monte

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	44	46	51	53	50	49	49	50	51	55	60	64	67	61	51	46	45
Tue	44	47	54	57	52	49	49	49	52	57	65	71	76	69	55	47	44
Wed	44	47	53	56	52	50	49	50	52	59	68	74	78	71	56	48	45
Thu	44	46	52	55	51	49	50	50	54	61	71	77	79	70	58	50	45
Fri	44	46	50	51	49	49	51	54	60	67	73	73	72	65	55	48	45
Sat	44	45	45	46	47	48	49	51	54	55	58	57	55	50	46	46	45
Sun	44	44	44	45	45	46	47	48	49	49	50	50	48	47	47	47	45

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	44	46	51	53	50	49	49	50	51	55	60	64	67	61	51	46	45
Tue	44	47	54	57	52	49	49	49	52	57	65	71	76	69	55	47	44
Wed	44	47	53	56	52	50	49	50	52	59	68	74	78	71	56	48	45
Thu	44	46	52	55	51	49	50	50	54	61	71	77	79	70	58	50	45
Fri	44	46	50	51	49	49	51	54	60	67	73	73	72	65	55	48	45
Sat	44	45	45	46	47	48	49	51	54	55	58	57	55	50	46	46	45
Sun	44	44	44	45	45	46	47	48	49	49	50	50	48	47	47	47	45

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	44	46	51	53	50	49	49	50	51	55	60	64	67	61	51	46	45
Tue	44	47	54	57	52	49	49	49	52	57	65	71	76	69	55	47	44
Wed	44	47	53	56	52	50	49	50	52	59	68	74	78	71	56	48	45
Thu	44	46	52	55	51	49	50	50	54	61	71	77	79	70	58	50	45
Fri	44	46	50	51	49	49	51	54	60	67	73	73	72	65	55	48	45
Sat	44	45	45	46	47	48	49	51	54	55	58	57	55	50	46	46	45
Sun	44	44	44	45	45	46	47	48	49	49	50	50	48	47	47	47	45